Kashmir earthquake death toll rises
Indian tour operators have started updating global clients on the status of tours and tourism in various parts of Kashmir since Saturday’s devastating earthquake.
More than 30,000 people are reported to have been killed and up to one million have been left homeless as cities and villages were reduced to rubble.
At least another 40,000 are reported to be injured in Pakistan, thousands of homes have collapsed, towns and villages have been completely flattened and cut off in Saturday morning’s earthquake that registered 7.6 on the Richter scale, and it is certain that the toll will rise. The epicentre of the quake was in west Muzaffarabad, 95 km from Islamabad.
Aid agencies estimate that 120,000 people are in need of shelter and clothing with as many as four million left homeless, according to the BBC.
The death toll in the Kashmir valley rose to over 650. Uri is one of the worst-affected areas in north Kashmir with over 200 casualties. Ninety per cent homes, offices and shops were razed to the ground.
Tremors were reported in Srinagar, but with no casualties. Tourists are understood to be safe and tours are continuing as normal.
Tremors were also felt in Delhi, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, but no causalities or damage was reported.
Rajeev Kohli, marketing director of Creative Travel India, said: “The epicenter was in the Pakistani part of Kashmir. The damage from this quake has been more in Pakistan with some affects being felt in the northern regions of Kashmir.
“There is no information of any damage to any areas of interest to tourists or of any tourists coming in harm’s way. We feel all tours to India can run normally without any deviations.”
Report by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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